The Toyota RAV4 EV (like this split one we snapped at the LA Auto Show) Is Built In Canada, But Sold In California Only

A petition has been put forward in Quebec, Canada to legislate a zero emission mandate that is not unlike the current CARB (California Air Resources Board) requirement that demands automakers sell a minimal threshold of all-electric vehicles in the state.

Petition Could Lead To Making Quebec The First CARB-Like Province In Canada

Overall, this sounds like a pretty good idea to us as CARB was instrumental in bringing about the current plug-in revolution now seen not only in the US but around the world. Seeing similar legislation enacted elsewhere in the world only strengthens the movement.

It is hoped through this effort that not only would more mainstream plug-in vehicles be sold in the province, but other "compliance vehicles" like the RAV4 EV would made available. The 103 mile (EPA) EV from Toyota is built regionally in neighbouring Ontario but sold exclusively in California.

Editor's note: Tesla Motors builds the electric drivetrains for the RAV4 EV at their facility in Fremont, California, then ships those units to Woodstock, Ontario (which is about 370 miles from Quebec's border) for Toyota to build the RAV4 EV - the completed vehicle is then returned whole to California for sale.

As previously (and still today) in California, there is a lot of resistance to such a push into electric vehicles from many layers of the automotive industry, including the OEMs themselves.

Last year 1.74 million cars were sold in Canada (about 11% compared to the size of the US market), but only 3,100 of them were plug-in vehicles, as compared to about 96,000 sold in the US.

The petition is open until March 3rd, 2014, so if you are interested in supporting this proposal, you should probably head over to this link (in French) quick to help out!

Text of the petition (translated to English below):

WHEREAS the scientific consensus demonstrates the harmful health effects of air pollution caused by fossil fuels;

WHEREAS road transport (cars, trucks and buses) is responsible for 80% of emissions in the transport sector and 31% of total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Quebec;

WHEREAS Quebec has a trade deficit in energy transport material and is not assured of a secure economically stable fuel supply;

WHEREAS the Quebec specific targets for GHG reductions of 20% below the 1990 emissions by 2020;

WHEREAS the electrification of transport or individual is essential to reduce GHG emissions in Québec;

WHEREAS the supply of electric vehicles must be present to achieve the level of electrification of transportation with 12,500 electric vehicles in 2017;

WHEREAS Quebec has underutilized electricity infrastructure;

WHEREAS, significant investments have been made ​​to the electrification of transportation;

WHEREAS the supply of electric vehicles is present mainly in jurisdictions that require it;

CONSIDERING THAT a law would develop expertise in electric transport would achieve our objectives and would radiate the Québec know-how;

We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Quebec to implement a Zero Emission law with penalties for failing to impose on manufacturers to provide an adequate share of electric vehicles Quebecers to achieve all the above.